Telephonic time-announcing system



March 17, 1931. M. L. ZIMMER TELEPHONIG TIME ANNOUNCING SYSTEM FiledDec. 13, 1929 unwra Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES MEADE L.ZIMMER, OF GORBODA, ARGENTINA TELEPHONIG TIME-ANNOUNCING SYSTEMApplication filed December 13, 1929. Serial No. 413,952.

from another contact 19 which will complete This invention relates to asystem for automatically giving the time over the telephone to any partywho asks for it. 3

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a practical systemfor this purpose; toprovide means for synchronizing a talking elementwhich gives the time over the telephone with a standardized clock; andto provide a control from the second hand of the standardized clock foran operating means for the talking element.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa diagrammatic view and wiring diagram of the means for controlling andoperating the talking element;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the talking element and operating meanswith a wiring diagram of the telephone circuit, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one form of talking element which can beemployed in connection with this invention.

It will be understood that the details of the invention can be carriedout in many different ways, and that the drawi s illustrate onepractical apparatus for this purpose.

. The device, of course, is controlled by a standard clock of anydesired character having a second hand 11. On the shaft of this secondhand is a wheel or disc 12 having a single notch 13 therein, this notchpreferably beingiabrupt on the forward side'and must he slanting or'havea gradually curved surface on the rear side.

Cooperating with this notch is a lever 14 having a tooth 15 having anabrupt edge on one side but not necessarily on the. other. This lever isshown as being held ,down against the wheel 12 by a spring 16, althoughgravity can be depended upon, if desired. It is connected up in anelectric circuit 17 having a contact 18, which in the position shown, isheld up by a tooth 15 away the circuit. In this circuit is anelectro-magnet 20. Obviously when the tooth 15 is down in the notch 13,at the end of each minute, a contact 1'819 will be completed and theelectro-magnet' energized through a source of power 21.

The energization of the electro-magnet 20 will draw up an armature 22mounted' on a lever 23. This lever has a contact 24 adapted to engage acontact 25 and close a cir cuit 26, having a source of power 27 and.connected with a motor 28 to supply the mo-' tor with current and causeit to rotate. This motor is provided with a gear or other Wheel 29operating a gear 30 on a shaft 31. Also on this shaft is a wheel or disc32 which is provided with a notch 33 which is arranged in the oppositemanner to the notch 13, and the end of the lever 23 is made squareproviding a tooth 34.

When the electro-magnet draws the lever 23 up, it draws the terminaltooth 34 on the lever out of the notch 33, and the shaft 31 is free torotate, which, of course, is accomplished by the motor through thegearing described.

When the wheel 12 has moved around in. the usual direction far enough tobring the tooth 15 up on the circular surface of the Wheel the contact18-19 is broken, the electro-magnet is deenergized, the lever 23 .isdropped back, but the circuit 26 is not opened. The tooth 34 rests onthe circular part of the wheel 32 and keeps the contacts 24 and 25together. The tooth serves as a positive stop at the end of a completerevolution of a .wheel and drops into the notch. The circuit 26 isbroken then at 25 so the motor also stops and the light 35, which is inthis circuit, is extinguished. This constitutes the means by which thetalking element that gives the time over the telephone is perfectlysynchronized with the clock.

The circuit 26 may be either an electric light circuit or an accumulatorcircuit.

On the shaft 31 is shown a reel 36 over which moves a film 37 made inthe same way as those used in the talking movies. In this aparatus, thefilm is made so that it will call out each hour and minute for thetwelve hours. Of course, instead of using the talking movie principle, adictaphone or phonoaph or a steel wire properly made could be used. Thisfilm can be made as shown in an endless form so that it will repeat thetwelve hours without adjustment or 'rewinding.

The light 35 is located in a position to direct its rays through a frame38 having a perforation of the desired size through it and carrying thefilm above it. The rays pass through a projecting device 39 and fall ona photo-electric cell 40 which is located in a circuit 41 and varies thecircuit in accordance with the variations in the film. This variation istransmitted through the transformer 42 to a telephone circuit 43.

In the working of the device, a person calls the number assigned to thisparticular telephone which would figure in the telephone directory asTime onlyy or the like. As soon as the bell rings, the motion of thehammer that rings the bell will close another circuit similar to thecircuit 17 and not illustrated herein, but which is common in telephonepractice. This establishes connection of the apparatus and the personwishing to know the correct time. He will then wait a moment until thesecond hand on the clock comes to the even minute. This closes thecircuit 17 which, as stated, closes the circuit 26. This lights the lamp35 and puts the motor into action and the film to running in front ofthe light. The film varies the light which passes through it and fallson the photo-electric cell. The film could be arranged so that if partof the film to be in use is impressed to indicate five minutes past ten,it causes, of course, a corresponding variation in the light that fallson the photo-electric cell so as to make it call over the telephone line43 ten five. As soon as the time has been called out, the apparatus cutsoff and breaks the connection on the telephone. It takes perhaps threeseconds for the call to be completed, allowing for all pauses, ecause ofthe reduction in gearing betweer the motor and the shaft 31. In thisway, automatic means is provided for giving the correct time which willalways be ready for action and can be used as often as is desired bydifferent subscribers all over the exchange and there is no opportunityfor failure as long as the apparatus is kept in working order.

Although I have illustrated and described a single form of the inventionand shown it as employed with a particular device for announcing thetime, I am aware of the fact that other devices could be used for thisparticular urpose without departing from the scope 0 this invention asexpressed in the claims.

Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact announcing deviceshown, but what I do claim is 1. In a telephone time announcing system,the combination with a master clock having a rotating hand, ofanelectric circuit, a motor arranged therein, means whereby whenever thehand completesa revolution, said circuit will be closed and the motorstarted, a talking element connected to be operated by the motor, atelephone instrument, and means for transmitting the variations of thetalking element to the telephone instrument in the form of wordsannouncing the time as represented by said hand.

2. In a telephone time announcing system, the combintaion with a masterclock having a second hand, of a normally open electric circuit, a motorarranged therein, means whereby when the second hand completes arevolution, said circuit will be completed and the motor started, atalking element connected to be operated by the motor, a circuit adaptedto be variable energized by the talking element, a telephone instrumentand a telephone circuit operated by the second circuit for transmittingits variations to the telephone instrument when the same is connected upin its circuit.

3. Ina telephone time announcin system, the combination with a mastercloclfiiaving a second hand, of a normally open electric circuit, amotor arranged therein, means whereby when the second hand completes arevolution, said circuit will be completed and the motor started, atalking element connected to be operated by the motor, a light in themotor circuit, a photo-electric cell in position to be variablyenergized by the light acting through the talking element, a primarycircuit with which said cell is connected to produce variations in theprimary circuit, a telephone instrument and a telephone circuit operatedby the primary circuit for transmitting its variations to the telephoneinstrument. when the same is connected up in its circuit.

4. In a telephone time announcing system, the combination with a clockhaving a second hand, a wheel rotatable with the second hand and havinga notch in its circumference, a lever having a tooth adapted to enterthe notch when in registration therewith, a circuit provided with acontact adapted to be closed by the motion of the lever when its toothenters the notch, an electro-magnet in said circuit, a second circuit, atalking element, a primary circuit having a photo-electric cell therein,means for transmitting light variations from a prepared body of thetalking element to the photo-electric cell, a secondary circuit underthe influence of the primary circuit, a telephone instrument connectedwith the secondary circuit, and means controlled by the second circuitfor operating the talking element.

5. In a telephone time announcing system, the combination with a clockhaving a second hand, a wheel rota-table with the second hand and havinga notch in its circumference, a lever having a tooth adapted to enterthenotch whenin'registration therewith, a circuit provided with a contact.adapted to be closed by the motion of the lever when its tooth entersthe notch, an electro-magnet in said circuit, a second circuit, a motorin the second circuit, a contact lever in'the second circuit having anarmature thereon adapted to be attracted by the electro-magnet whenenergized, said second lever being adapted to I close the second circuitwhen the armature is attracted by the magnet, thereby startingthe motor,a wheel connected with said motor to be operated thereby and havinganotch in its circumference, the second lever having means thereon forentering said notch and stopping the wheel positively when the magnetisnot energized and the wheel comes around to the position inwhich thenotch registers with said means on the second lever, a talking elementoperated by said wheel, a primary circuit having a photo-electric celltherein, means for transmitting light variations from a prepared body ofthe talking element to the photo-electric cell while the motor isrunning, a secondary circuit under the influence of the primary circuit,and a telephone instrument connected with the secondar circuit.

6. n a telephone timeannouncing system, the combination with a clockhaving hour, minute and second hands, a wheel rotatable with the secondhand and having a notch in its circumference,- a tooth adapted to enterthe notch when in registration therewith, a circuit provided with thecontact adapted to be closed by the motion of the tooth entering thenotch, an ele'ctro-magnet in said circuit, a second circuit, a motor inthe second circuit, means in the second circuit having an armaturethereon adapted to be attracted by the electro-magnet when energized,said means being adapted to close the second circuit when the armatureis attracted, thereby starting the motor, means for opening the secondcircuit and stopping the motor, a talking element operated by saidmotor, a telephone instrument and means controlled by said talkingelement for transmitting to the telephone instrument signals to show theposition of the clock hands.

7. In a telephone time announcing system, the combination with a clockhaving a second hand, a wheel rotatable with the second hand cuitprovided with a contact adapted to be closed by the motion of the leverwhen its tooth enters the notch, an electro-magnet in said circuit, asecond circuit, a motor in the second circuit, a contact lever in thesecond circuit having an armature thereon adapted to be attracted by theelectro-magnet when energized, said second lever being adapted to closethe second circuit when the armature is attracted by the magnet, therebystarting the motor, a wheel connected with said motor to be operatedthereby and having a notch in its circumference, the second lever havingmeans thereon for entering said notch and stopping the wheel positivelywhen the magnet is not energized and the wheel comes around to theposition in which the notch registers with said means on-the secondlever, a talking element operated by said wheel, and means fortransmitting variations produced in the talking element to a telephonetransmitter in the form of words announcing the time.

8; In a device of the character described, the combination with acontrolling clock having a second hand, an electric circuit having anelectro-magnet therein controlled by operation of the second hand toenergize the magnet once during each rotation of the second hand, asecond circuit, a motor and electric light in the second circuit, anarmature adapted to be attracted by the electro-magnet, movable means inthe second circuit connected with said armature for closing the secondcircuit when the armature is attracted by the magnet, a shaft, a motorfor operating the shaft, a wheel on said shaft hav ing a notch in itscircumference, means movable With said armature for resting on thecircumference of said wheel and entering the notch when the wheelrotates to a certain position to stop the wheel, means for stopping themotor and extinguishing the light at the same time, a film adapted to beprovided with means for announcing hours and minutes in order, aprojector, said film passing between the electric light and theprojector, a photoelectro cell in position to receive the rays of lightfrom the projector, and a telephone receiving instrument connected to becontrolled by the photo-electric cell.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with acontrolling clock having a second hand, an electric circuit having anelectro-magnet therein controlled by operation of the secondhand toenergize the mag net at the end of each rotation of the second hand, asecond circuit, a motor and electric light in the second circuit, anarmature adapted to be attracted by the electro-magnet, movable means inthe second circuit connected withsaid armature for closing the secthespeed, means for stopping the motor and extinguishing the light at thesame time, a film adapted to he provided with means for announcing hoursand minutes in order, a projector, said film passing between theelectric light and the projector, a photo-electro cell in position toreceive the varying rays of light from the projector, a primary circuitin which said photo-electric cell-is located, a secondary circuit,atransformer for varying the secondary circuit with the primary circuitand a telephone receiving instrument in the secondary circuit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

M. L. ZIMMER.

